Flush valves for water closet tanks



w. A. HEIDMAN, JR 2,839,761

FLUSH VALVES FOR WATER CLOSET TANKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 24,- 1958Filed Dec. 6, 1955 INVENTOR.

W/Y/Mm 4. Hem 07mg):

BY 0M2 June 24, 1958 w. A. HEIDMANQ JR 2,839,761

FLUSH VALVES FOR WATER CLOSET TANKS Filed Dec. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2w W "a I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent This invention relates to improvements in flushvalves for water closet tanks.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a flush valve that is extremely simple and inexpensiveto manufacture.

Second, to provide a flush valve assembly without any relatively movablejoints or parts that are apt to jam or get out of adjustment.

Third, to provide a flush valve assembly particularly adapted forclosets having flush tanks positioned below the overflow level of thecloset bowl which valves will prevent the overflow of the bowl shouldthe bowl outlet become clogged.

Fourth, to provide a flush valve for low level flush tanks which willclose automatically and prevent continued filling of the tank andresultant continued overflow of the closet bowl should the closet bowlbecome clogged.

Fifth, to provide a flush valve assembly without pivotally or movablyconnected parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom aconsideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate two highlypractical forms of flush valve as applied to the two types of closettanks.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a common form of closet tank withthe flush valve of the invention applied thereto, portions of the tankand valvebeing broken away in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the valve as installed in thetank in Fig. l. v r

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view through the valvehandle mounting on the flush tank wall.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the flush handletaken along the plane of the line 55 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a water closet havinga low level closet tank extending below the level of the closet bowlwith a modified form of flush valve operatively mounted in the flushtank.

v 1I1'1 Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated the more common type ofcloset tank 1 having an outlet pipe 2 in the bottom. This type of tankis mounted in a well known manner above the level of the closet bowl towhich it is connected, Water is admitted into the tank from an inletpipe 3 and the level of the water is automatically controlled by a float4 actuating a valve 5, as will be understood. A flush handle 6 ispivotally mounted on the wall of the tank, also in a well known manner.A

The valve 7 which controls the passage of water to the outlet pipe 2 isa generally flat'disc shaped hollow body of molded rubberor plastic. Thevalve is molded in two parts joined along the parting line 8. The lowerwall 9 of the valve is desirably convex but its radius of curvature issubstantially greater than the radius of the outlet pipe 2 with which itcoacts. As illustrated the radius of curvature of the lower wall 9 isabout twelve times the radius of the pipe 2 and for the purposes oficedefining the scope of the invention, a minimum radius for the bottom ofthe valve is established as six times the radius of the pipe. The bottomwall may have a small degree of flexibility to conform to the outletpipe 2 which forms the flush valve seat. However, the wall 9 issufliciently stiff to prevent collapse of the wall into the end of thepipe. The bottom convex surface of the-valve is substantially wider thanthe pipe. The bottom wall 9 defines a central aperture 10 that opensinto the top of the outlet pipe when the valve is seated.

The upper wall of the valve 7 has an integral upwardly inclined neck 12with an inclined slot or hole therein as at 11. The neck is locatedoff-center of the valve toward the handle 6. The hole 11 'adjustably andfrictional-1y receives the flattened end 13 of a valve rod 14 desirablyformed of brass or other non-rusting metal. The rod 14 extends obliquelyupwardly toward the handle 6 and is bent forwardly as at 15 to clear theinlet pipe 3 and to enter axially into the hub of the handle 6. Theupper end of the rod 15 is clamped to the handle for rotation therewithby any suitable means, such as the bushing 16 pressed into the hub ofthe handle along with the end of the valve rod. Turning motion of thehandle thus swings the rod and the valve 7 in an oblique sliding orelevating motion with respect to the seat on the end of the outlet pipeopening the flush valve. The ofl-center location of the neck 12 and theflexible character of the neck results in a lifting, or prying action onthe side of the valve nearest the handle that unseats the valve againstthe pressure of the water. The 'valve 7 being hollow and buoyant opensand remains open while the tank empties and reseats on the pipe 2automatically as the level of the water falls to the level of the outletpipe 2. The neck that connects the valve to the rod is slightly flexiblepermitting the valve to tilt slightly relative to the rod. A tilt offrom 5 to 10 degrees is sufficient and should not be exceededmaterially. In seating, the valve will tend to hang down and strike thefar edge of the pipe first and then tilt into final seating position.

The closet bowl 20 and the flush tank 21 illustrated in Fig. 5 are awell-known, if somewhat less common,.type of structure than the tank 1in Fig. l. The outlet pipe 22 of the tank 21 opens directly into a flushpassage 23 positioned below the top of the bowl 20. This type of bowland tank is subject to the disadvantage that when a standard flush valveconsisting of a buoyant ball 'is opened the ball will not sink andreclose the flush valve should the bowl outlet become plugged becausethere will always be sufficient water above the outlet pipe 22 to floatthe ball above the pipe. At the same time the low level of the water inthe tank will move the inlet float to open position so that the inletvalve will continue to supply water to the tank resulting in continuousover-flow of the closet bowl and resultant damage to the floors, wallsand furnishings of the building. I f e A modified form of flush valve 7Badapted for use in this type of closet tank is similar to the first formof the valve described being a hollow disc-shaped body of molded rubberor plastic. The bottom wall is apertured and a grommet 10B is fitted inthe aperture. The grommet is used because there is a regular flow ofwater through the bottom wall of the valve, as willbe described, and thegrommet can be made of more rigid and wear-resisting material than thewall of the valve}; The size of the opening through the grommet may alsobe accurately controlled for the reasons to be described The neck 11Breceives the lower end of the valve rod 14B, as in the first form of thevalve, but in this case the valve rod 143 is hollow and opens to theinterior of the hollow valve 7B. The connection of the'valve rod 14B tothe valve is desirably oflF-center'as in the first form of the valvealthough this does not appear in the angle from which Fig. 5 is taken.The valve rod 14B extends upwardly and is connected to the handle 6, asin the first form of the valve, but a vent hole 24 is formed in thevalve rod above the water line of the tank 21.

With the foregoing construction, the hollow valve rod 14B and'the valvebody 73 drain through the outlet pipe 22 as the water drains from theflush passage 23 and the valve is held seated by the pressure of thewater in the tank 21. When the handle and valve rod are tilted to unseatthe valve 7B the grommet B is, of course, immersed in the water in thetank and the space within the hollow valve being open above the waterline through the vent 24 water immediately begins to flow into thehollow valve at a rate determined by the size of the orifice in thegrommet. This size is desirably calibrated to fill the valve 7B in aboutthe time that it takes to fill the bowl from the tank 21. The float orvalve 7B thus losses its buoyancy and sinks to closed position beforeany over-flow occurs and prevents continued and prolonged over-flow ofthe bowl.

It is desirable in both the valve assemblies shown that the fixed stop25 on the valve handle mounting coact with the valve handle 6 to limitupward movement of the valve to a short distance above the valve seat asshown by the dotted lines 26 in Fig. 5. This prevents interferencebetween the valve rod and the ballfloat arm of the inlet valve. It alsoholds the valve well below the overflow levelof the bowl so that thevalve 7B fills at the desired rate due to the head of water over thevalve. Closing of the valve before overflow occurs is thus assured. Inall forms of the valve, the valve seats externally or over the end ofthe valve seat as ,distinguished from seating inside the rim of theseat.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and isdesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A flush tankvalve assembly comprising a closet tank having an outletpipe in the bottom with a yalve.

seat on the top of the pipe, a handle pivotally mounted in the wall ofthe tank above the water level of thetank and to one side of the pipe, avalve rod rigidly connected to said handle and swingable therewithwithin said ,tank, said rod extending obliquely downwardly to over' saidpipe, and a hollow circular valve of deformable rubber mounted on thelower end of said rod, said valve having a convex lower surface ofsubstantially greater radius than the radius of the circular outline ofthe valveand adapted to seat against the seat on said pipe and having aninclined upwardly projecting neck slidably adjustably receivingtthelower endtof said rod whereby the valve opens and closes in an arcuateswinging motion about the pivot of said handle and obliquely across thetop of said pipe onto said seat, the radius of convexity of said convexsurface being at least six times the radius of said pipe, the lower wallof said valve having an opening therein positioned within the outline ofsaid pipe when said valve is seated, the connection between said neckand the top of the valve being oif-center of the valve toward saidhandle and being flexible permitting limited tilting of the valve withrespect to the rod.

2. A flush tank valve assembly comprising a closet tank having an outletpipe in the bottom with a valve seat on the top of the pipe, a handlepivotally mounted in the wall of the tank above the water level of thetank and to one side of the pipe, a valve rod rigidly connected to saidhandle and swingable therewith within said tank, said rod extendingobliquely downwardly to over said pipe, and a hollow and flat valvemounted on the-lower end of said rod whereby the valve opens and closesin an arcuate swinging motion about the pivot of said handle andobliquely across the-top of said pipe onto said seat, said valve havinga generallyflat lower surface broader thansaid pipe adapted to seatagainst the seat over said pipe, the connection between said valve andsaid rod being flexible permitting limited tilting of the valve on therod and being located ofi center of the valve toward the rod.

3. A flush tank valve assembly comprising a closet tank having an outletpipe in the bottom with a valve seat on the top of the pipe, a handlepivotally mounted in the wall of the tank above the water level of thetank and to one side of the pipe, a valve rod rigidly connected to saidhandle and swingable therewith within said tank, said rod extendingobliquely downwardly to over said pipe, and a hollow flat valve mountedon the lower end of said ro-d whereby the valve opens and closes in anarcuate swinging motion about the pivot of said handle and obliquelyacross the top of said pipe onto said seat, said valve having a convexlower surface broader than said pipe adapted to seat against the seat onsaid pipe, said convex surface having a radius of convexity of at leastsix times the radius of said pipe, the connection between said valve andsaid rod being positioned off center of the valve toward the rod.

4. A flush tank valve assembly comprising a closet tank. having anoutlet pipe in the bottom with a valve seat on the top'of the pipe, ahandle pivotally mounted in the wall of the tank above the water levelof the tank and to one side of the pipe, a valve rod rigidly connectedto said handle and swingable therewith-within said tank, said rodextending obliquely downwardly toward said pipe, and a hollow flat valvemounted on the lower end of said rod whereby the valve opens and closesin an arcuate swinging motion about the pivot of said handle andobliquely across the top of said pipe onto said seat, said valve havinga generally flat lower surface broader than said pipe adapted to seatagainst the seat on said pipe, the connection between said valve andsaid rod being off center of the valve. I

5. A flush valve assembly comprising a closet tank having an outlet inthe bottom thereof with'a valve seat around the outlet, a valve ofhollow constructionhaving a generally flat lower. wall broader than saidseat adapted to seat on said seat and having a hole formed in themiddle-of said lower wall, a valvehandle pivoted .in the wall of saidtank above the Water level of the tank, a valve'rod connected'directlyto said handle and swingable therewith and extending in anincline downwardly within said tank and connected to said valve.

6. In combination with a closet bowl having a flush tank with an outletpipe positioned below the level of the top of the bowl, a flush valveassembly comprising a flattened hollow circular valve of deformablerubber material adapted to seat, on said pipe and having a hole in itsbottom wall openingto said pipe, a handle pivoted on the wall of saidtank, a valve rod connected tosaid handle and swingable therewith andextending obliquely downwardly to said valve, said rod having ahollowportion connected to said valve and communicating with i theinside of the valve and having a vent hole opening from said hollowportion above the waterline of said tank, and a grommet fitted withinthe hole in the bottom of said valve and havinga calibrated orifice tometer the flow of water into said hollow valve, said handle and tankhaving coacting stop portionstlimiting upward motion of the said rod toretain said valve below the bowl overflow line of the tank, theconnection between said rod and .said valve beingofi-center of thevalve.

7. In combination withxa closet bowl having'a .flush tank with an outletpipe positioned belowthe level of the top of the bowl, a flush valveassembly comprising a flat hollow circular valve having a convex bottomwall of substantially greater radius than theradius of the circularoutlinev of-the valve and adapted to seat on said pipe and having a holein its. bottom wall opening to said pipe, a handle pivoted on the wallof saidtank, a valve rod directly connected to said handle and swingabletherewith and extending obliquely downwardly to said valve, said rodhaving a hollow portion connected to said valve and communicating withthe inside of the valve and having a vent hole opening from said hollowportion above the water line of said tank, and a grommet fitted withinthe hole in the bottom of said valve and having a calibrated orifice tometer the flow of water into said hollow valve, said handle and tankhaving coacting stop portions limiting upward motion of the said rod toretain said valve below the bowl overflow line of the tank.

8. In combination with a closet bowl having a flush tank with an outletpipe positioned below the level of the top of the bowl, a flush valveassembly comprising a flat hollow circular valve adapted to seat on saidpipe and having a hole in its bottom wall opening to said pipe, a handlepivoted on the wall of said tank, and a valve rod directly connected tosaid handle and swingable therewith and extending obliquely downwardlyto said valve, said rod having a hollow portion connected to said valveand communicating with the inside of'the valve and having a vent holeopening from said hollow portion above the water line of said tank, saidhandle and tank having coacting stop portions limiting upward motion ofthe said rod to retain said valve below the bowl overflow line of thetank.

9. In combination with a closet bowl having a flush tank with an outletwith a valve seat therearound positioned below the level of the top ofthe bowl, a flush valve assembly comprising a flat hollow circular valveadapted to seat on said seat and having a hole in its bottom wallopening to said outlet, a handle pivoted on the wall of said tank, and avalve rod connected to said handle and swingable therewith and extendingobliquely downwardly to said valve, means movable with said rodcommunicating with the inside of the valve and forming a vent openingabove the water line of said tank, said hole acting to meter the flow ofwater into said hollow valve, the connection between the rod and valvehaving limited flexibility and being located olfcenter of the valve.

10. In combination with a closet bowl having a flush tank with an outletwith a valve seat therearound positioned below the level of the top ofthe bowl, a flush valve assembly comprising a hollow valve having agenerally flat lower surface broader than said seat adapted to seat onsaid seat and having a hole in its bottom wall opening to said outlet, ahandle pivoted on the wall of said tank above the water level of thetank, and a valve rod connected directly to said handle and swingabletherewith and extending obliquely downwardly and connected to said valvewhereby the valve opens and closes in an 'arcuate swinging motion aboutthe pivot of said handle and obliquely onto said seat, and means movablewith said rod communicating with the inside of the valve and forming avent opening above the water line of said tank, said hole acting tometer the flow of water into said hollow valve.

11. A flush tank valve assembly comprising a handle adapted to bepivotally mounted in the wall of a tank,

a valve rod connected directly to said handle and swingable therewith,and a flat hollow valve mounted on the lower end of said rod whereby thevalve opens and closes in an arcuate swinging motion about the pivot ofsaid handle and obliquely across the top of said pipe onto said seat,said valve having a generally flat lower surface adapted to seat over aseat on a pipe and having a neck on its upper side connected to thelower end of said rod, the connection between said neck and the valvebeing ofi-center of the valve toward said handle and being flexiblepermitting limited tilting of the valve with respect to the rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,775,934 Delany Sept. 16, 1930 2,475,681 Stentz July 12, 1949 2,520,574Smith Aug. 29, 1950 2,584,931 Smith Feb. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 342,537Italy Aug. 6, 1936 514,801 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1939

